Means for doffing ring frames



Sept. 29, 1953 H. PARTINGTON ,5

' MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Filed Jan. 10, 1950 I 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIYVE/VFOR HAROLD fART/A/e'rou 371 KM ATTORNEY H. PARTINGTON MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Sept. 29, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1950 I 1T1! I- Tim .7

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Sept. 29, 1953 H. PARTINGTON MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES l7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 10, 1950 )Nvi/rrok HAROLD PARTINGTQNI Sept. 29, 1953 H. PARTINGTON MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Filed Jan. 10, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 mvnvrok 4 ql ld l I I I l I I l I l I I I I I I l l I l I I I I l -mmmuunnm HAROLD FHRTINGTOMI 57: a arm/CA1) ATTQRN T P 9, 1953 H. PARTINGTON 2,653,440

MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Filed Jan. 10, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 /NVENTO/? HAROLD PA RTINGTON BYI 3m ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1953 H. PARTINGTON 2,653,440

MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Filed Jan. 10, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 l/VvE/VTOP HAROLD PARTINGTON ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1953 H. PARTINGTON 2,

MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Filed Jan. 10, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet v I i=x===='f= r PARTINGTON ATToR ui'sy Sept. 29, 1953 H. PARTINGTON MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 10, 1950 2 my M. M m m T w W P 1953 H. PARTINGTON 2,653,440

'MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Filed Jan. 10, 1950 1''! Sheets-Sheet 9 I mysu TOR HAROLD PAI YTING Sept. 29, 1953 H. PARTINGTON 2,

MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Filed Jah. 10, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 1o ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1953 H. PARTINGTON MEANS FOR DOFFI NG RING FRAMES l7 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Jan. 10, 1950 'l ui mvflvrofi HAROLD PARTlNsToN ap/Wu HTTOR N "Y Sept. 29, 1953- H. PARTINGTON 2,653,440

MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Filed Jan. .10, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 1s flARaLO PA nvmerqn 57 3mm ATToR nsy H. PARTINGTON MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES Sept. 29, 1953 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Jan. 10, 1950 l ln L IHn F l h-H IIWEIVTOR. HAROLD PARTINGTON azzz BY: W ATTORNEY 17 Sheets-Sheet l6 l/VYE/VI'OR H/mm. 0 PART! NsToN' nrT cmnzY H. PARTINGTON MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES IIIIIIIIIL II Sept. 29, 1953 Filed Jan. 10, 1950 Sept. 29, 1953 H. PARTINGTON MEANS FOR DOFFING RING FRAMES l7 Sheets-Sheet 1'7 Filed Jan. 10, 1950.

H I nl l l l l fi l INVENT'OR Y. 0mm: L MNW I a mT m n I/IIIII Patented Sept. 2 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 10, 1950, Serial N 0. 137,766 In Great Britain January 15, 1949 6 Claims.

This invention relates to means for doffing ring frames, spinning, doubling, twisting and like machines all herein referred to generically as ring frames, and has for its object to provide improvements in machines which mechanically remove full bobbins from, and place empty bobbins on the ring frame spindles, and thereby reduce the period of stoppage of the ring frame as well as reducing the labour required for removing all the filled bobbins on a frame and replacing them with empty bobbins.

A machine for dofling ring frames in accordance with this invention is traversable along the front of the ring frame step-by-step through successive operative positions and has means for simultaneously removing bobbins from a group of spindles and means for simultaneously donning bobbins on to an adjacent group of spindles in each such operative position. As the machine moves along the ring frame, in each position it places empty bobbins on the spindles of the group from which the full bobbins were removed in the next preceding position.

The term bobbin as used hereinmust be taken as including any form of tubular holder for a package of yarn, such as could be employed with ring frame spindles, whether wooden or plastic bobbins, paper tube or otherwise.

According to the invention also, the said machine has a prime mover thereon which imparts to it a step-by-step movement along the front of the frame, there being means operative at the end of each increment or step of movement to drive mechanism for doffing a group of spindles and simultaneously donning an adjacent group of spindles, and means operative at the end of each doffing and donning operation to initiate the next increment or step of movement.

The machine may be mounted to run on rails at the front of the ring frame, but preferably it will run direct on the mill floor, in which case there will be a guide rail or rails along the front of the ring frame, with releasable means on the alternations of (a) traverse along the frame and (b) doffing and donning of bobbins.

The dofiing mechanism according to the invention includes a rising and falling structure on which is a horizontally slidable mechanism,

the said slidable mechanism carries a device adapted to push the full bobbins upwards off the spindles when such device is lifted by the raising of the slidable member, the said member being also adapted to be projected over spindles before it is lowered and to be withdrawn after it has been raised, and also to become inoperative after withdrawal, and thereby release the removed full bobbins.

According to a further feature of the invention, the said rising and falling structure also carries a cutting mechanism for severing the yarn leading to the doffed bobbins, which mechanism may comprise relatively movable cutters, means for holding them in open position against spring resistance, and means for releasing them to effect the cutting operation at the required time.

The invention may also comprise a supporting member for the released full bobbins, to intercept their fall when the lifting means is withdrawn, which supporting member is removed immediately after the cutting operation, thus preventing the unwinding of a long length of yarn from the falling bobbins before the yarn is out.

As in known practice, the full bobbins have at their base a number of so-called doffing coils of yarn which, as the bobbins are drawn off the spindles, unwind on to the spindle, and are trapped there by the next empty bobbin placed on the spindle. To prevent unwinding of these coils from the spindle, a resilient member is adapted to be brought into engagement with them and, as the machine moves along from one operative position to the next, to rub on the coils of yarn, in a winding direction.

Track wheels on one or more axles are provided, with means for driving them when required, and such wheels, or some of them, may be releasable from their axles so as to allow the machine to be rotated in its own length, say when required to pass a pillar or roof support in its straight-line path.

In order to keep the machine in close juxtaposition with the ring frame, it has rollers on vertical studs to ride on th rear face of the notched rail (or another rail provided for the purpose). vision for the disengagement of these rollers from the rail, say by rotation of those studs about horizontal axes, so that the rollers may be moved from behind the said rail to allow the machine to be guided around a pillar or like obstacle.

The donning mechanism preferably comprises a further horizontally-slidable member or The present invention includes pro-- donning mechanism advanced.

I. drawer, adapted to be projected over and withdrawn from the spindles, and having compartments each adapted to contain a horizontallydisposed empty bobbin and also having a sliding bottom portion adapted to be operated when the drawer is projected and release the empty bobbins and guide their lower ends on to the spindles, as they fall from the compartments.

The donning mechanism is provided with means for changing the horizontal disposition of the bobbins about to be donned into a vertical disposition. In addition, there may be means in the bobbin-releasing mechanism (by which the bobbins are dropped one by one from each compartment of the hopper) to delay the 'fallo'f the tip of the bobbin, so that the bobbin is tilted towards a vertical position in its fall.

A still further feature of the invention comprises means for pressing the empty bobbins on to the spindles on which they have been placed. g

In the accompanying drawing, one example of machine according to the invention is illustrated. The machine shown is a first model or prototype, and the primary purpose of the drawings is to illustrate the several functions on whichthe ing venti'on is based, the actual design of the parts being subject to modification for production purposes.

Fig. l "is an elevation of the machine on the side nearest the ring frame when-in use.

Fig. 2 is 'a sectional plan on the line 2-2, Fig. '1, and showing a part of the ring frame in broken lines.

"Fig. 3 is an end elevation at the donning end with the donning mechanism retracted and the magazine "omitted, distant parts of the machine being omitted for the purpose of clarity.

Fig. 3a is a sectional View showing an alternative means for operating the machine;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation at the doffing end with the doffing parts iowered on to the bobbins, distant parts being omitted here, also.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line 5 5,-Fig. 2, with the donning mechanism retracted.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. -5, but with the Fig. 7 is a plan, with the magazine removed and with the donning and doffing mechanism both advanced, interior parts of the machine being omitted.

Fig. 7a is a fragmentary plan 'of a part of the donning mechanism in the retracted position.

Fig. 8 is .a transverse vertical section through the dofllng end of the machine illustrating the doifing mechanism in the position occupied at the completion of one dofiing operation and ready for the next.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing parts of the doffing mechanism advanced over the bobbins to 'be doifed, and the cutting mechanism retracted.

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the advanced parts lowered on to the bobbins, and the bobbin Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the cutting mech= anism, surrounding parts being omitted, with the cutters retracted and in the loaded or open position.

Fig. 15 is a plan projected from Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a sectional end view of the parts shown in Figs. 1c and 15.

Figs. 1'7, 18 and 19 are views corresponding to Figs. 14, 15 and 16, with the cutters advanced and in the released or closed position.

As shown, the apparatus comprises a frame or carriage having lower horizontal members I, upper horizontal members 2 and vertical members 3 and 4. Between the horizontal members 1, at the ends of the apparatus, are platforms or decks 5 and 6, and between those platforms there are track wheels I on a spindle 3 mounted in bearings 9 on the lower horizonta1 members I. One of the track wheels is permanently secured to the shaft, but the other has a clutch member by which it may be released from or secured to the shaft, at will. When so released, it renders the machine more mobile and dirigible.

The platform 5 carries a driving motor i0 supplied with current by a trailing cable ll under the control of a stop-and-start switch E2. The said motor 15 drives a cross shaft 13 located in bearings I l the drive being by means of pulley if; on the motor shaft, belt l6 and pulley ll on the cross shaft i3. Cross shaft i3 also carries a worm l8 which meshes with a worm 'wheel 49 on a short shaft 2% mounted in bearings 21, on which shaft is a toothed wheel "22 driving a similar toothed wheel 23 on a parallel shaft 24. Fixed on the shaft 24, at one end, is a bevel wheel .25 meshing with a similar bevel wheel 26 on a cross shaft 21 mounted in bearings 28.

Splined on the cross shaft 21 is one half 29 of a toothed clutch, integral with which is a collar 3% which receives rollers 31a on the ends of radial arms 3i fixed on a spindle 32. The other half clutch 33 is rotatable on the cross shaft 21, and is secured to a sprocket wheel 35 meshing with a chain which drives a further sprocket 3.6 on the shaft :3 of the track wheels '1. Behind the hair" clutch 33 is a compression spring 31 serving as a shock absorber whilst clutching.

On the spindle L32 is fixed a lever 38 the upper end of which carries :a roller 39, and the lower end of which is constrained by a tension spring 40 acting between it and a fixed part of the frame. Oscillation of such lever 38 in :one direction by means described below, moves the spli-nedcollar 39 and half clutch along the cross shaft 21 to complete the drive to the track wheels 7.

Extending from one of the said radial arms'3.l

on the spindle 32 is a latch member 4! having .a

hooked end ii-a which, when the clutch is closed, hooks over a 52 of the frame to hold the clutch in engagement until released. Depending from the latch member i! is a trip member is whose lower end lies in the path of-a radial projection is on a shaft 45; a tension spring :25 being provided, holding such radial projection ii normally in the raised position to release the clutch.

On the shaft is a projecting arm 41 above which is a further lever G3 loosely mounted on the spindle 32, a spring Til-i being provided between a fixed boss on the shaft E5 and the lower endof the lever is. This lever 8 is cam operated, by means described below. At the end of the shaft B5 is a latching member 56 the end of which projects out of the machine and 'is adapted to enter successive notches '5 i a in a rail 5| provided along the'front of the ring frame.

Referring back' to the shaft '24, the toothed".

ther and smaller half clutch 56 co-operating with a non-rotary half clutch 5! behind which are shock-absorbing springs 51a. Extending from one limb of the yoke member 54a is a latch 58 with hookshaped end 59 adapted in certain positions to hook over an abutment 60 fixed on the machine frame, a spring 6| being provided to load the latch member 58. The arrangement is such that as the half clutches 52 and 53 are separated, and the half clutches 56 and 5! become engaged, the two clutches are held in such positions by the engagement of the hook 59 of the latch member 58 with the said abutment 5!].

Depending fromethe cross shaft '55 is a lever arm 62 the lower end of which is connected by a tension spring 53 to a bracket 64 on the platform 5. Mounted on such platform 5 is a vertical spindle 65'to which is fixed an arm 55 adapted to engage the lower end of the said depending lever 52.

Also on such vertical spindle 55 is a further arm 5'? projecting out of the machine and adapted to be engaged by and pushed inwardly by an obstruction 55 on the rail 5! so as to rotate the said vertical shaft 55 and thereby displace the depending lever 52 against the pull of the spring 53, and in so doing, by rotating cross shaft 55 to separate the half clutches 52 and 53 and bring the latch member 58 into operation to hold them separated.

In Fig. 3a is shown a modification of the means for initiating rotation of the vertical shaft 55. In this modification, the'said shaft is shown broken away at 55c and an arm 51a is secured on said shaft and extends toward the vertical web 510 of the rail and on said vertical web are mounted slidable plates 5lb in which are formed openings =5Ic, so that such openings are adjustable for accurately positioning the machine and ensuring operation of the arm 6111 at the correct time,

it being understood that the arm 61a moves in opposite directions into and out of the openings as the machine moves on. This modification has the advantage that in the event of failure of the latch 53 above described to operate, the clutch members are held in engagement by contact of the arm 5M with the back of the rail web 510.

Projecting from the half clutch 53 is a cam or nog 5% which, as the half clutch 53 rotates, first displaces the lever 58 which, by depressing the radial arm i! on the shaft 45 rotates that shaft to lift the latch member 55 out of the notch 5m in the rail 5!, and immediately thereafter displaces the lever 38 on the spindle 32 to rotate that spindle and thereby close the half clutches 29 and 53 so as to complete the drive to the'track wheels 1. These half clutches are held in the closed position by engagement of the hook Ma with the fixed part 42. I

With the motor in driving, the machine now moves bodily along the front of the ring frame, the latch member 5a riding on the top of the rail 5i, and the parts displaced by arm 51 being held in the retracted position by the latch 58. As the machine approaches the next operative position, the latch member 55 falls into the appropriate notch Ela in the rail 5! to rotate the shaft 55 in the reverse direction andthereby lift the latch member M 'to allow the half clutches 29 audit to separate to arrest the machine and at the same time a trip member 45a also carried by shaft 45 lifts the latch 58 clear of the abutment 60 to allow the half clutches 52 and 53 to engage, thus driving the shaft 24.

On one end of the shaft 24 is a small crank 10 which is connected by connecting rod H to a. radial arm 12 on a further shaft 13 journalledv ing radial arms M whose upper ends are con-i nected by short links 75 to a rod 15 mounted" in a sliding frame, the oscillatory movements of the said shaft '15 bringing about a to-and-fro movement of that frame, in horizontal guides 1''! pro" vided in the main frame of the machine, see Fig. 3.

In the rear part of the said sliding frame is a horizontal bar 78 below which are a number of vertical cylindrical guides 79 open at the side facing the ring frame. Above such bar i8 is a corresponding number of tubular guides leading from compartments in a hopper 8!, the front. wall of the hopper a! being fixed on the frame, and the rear wall being in sections Bla hinged at. their lower edges on a spindle 82 carried in they One end of such. spindle 32 is fitted with a radial arm 83 on which is a roller 3 to roll on a cam 85 in the end of the main frame so that, when the slidable frame is: in the inner position (as in Fig. 3) the said roller- 85 and arm 83 fall, to cause the hinged sections; did of the compartments to incline rearwardlyn in which position it rests upon inclined supporting members St in the frame, and as the frame is frame (see Figs. 3, 5 and 6).

moved outwardly the cam 85 raises the arm 83 to bring the said hinged sections am to the ver-- tical position. On the inner face of the hinged. sections did are guides which register with the divisions between the compartments of the hopper 8|.

Slidable in the said horizontal bar 18 between the tubular guides 85 and 79 above and below it, is an apertured plate 8? having an aperture for each guide 55 (see Figs. '7 and 7a Depending from such plate 53 at one end, is a pin 83, which, as the slidable frame approaches the inner position, is displaced by a cam 39 on the main frame of the machine to put the apertures in the sliding plate 37 out of register with the openings in the tubular guides 85 so as to support bobbins lying in those guides (see particularly Fig. 7a)

There is a spring 59 tending to move the apertured plate 8? into a position where the apertures in it are in register with the guides 89 to allow the bobbins to fall through but, as the plate 52' is pushed inwardly by the said pin 85 and cam 89, a hinged trip lever 9! falls across the end of the plate 8'? to obstruct its return, the trip lever being held there by a spring 52 (see Fig. 3). As the sliding frame approachesits outermost position an upstanding part em on the hinged trip lever 9! is arrested by a fixed projection 53 on the main frame, causing the lever 91! to rotate about its pivot and move clear of the end of the apertured plate 53 whereupon the said spring 55 moves the plate 8! outwardly so that the apertures in it are in register with the guides Bil and the bobbins fall through.

Returning now to the shaft 13, there is a fixed toothed wheel 95 meshing with a smaller idler wheel 95 which in turn meshes with a small toothed wheel 85 on a shaft fll-mounted in the 

